P3 Science
Classification of Living Things
This science revision note aims to help your child
– understand flow charts
– identify the relevant characteristics
– Write out your answers clearly.
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Study the classification chart below.
(a) Using the chart above, state two differences between a butterfly and a penguin.
(b) Using the chart above, state one similarity between an eagle and a flea.
PART (a)
Using the chart above, state two differences between a butterfly and a penguin.
STEP 1
Identify where the butterfly and penguin are in the chart.
STEP 2
Work backward up the chart to identify all the characteristics of each animal. Then, list them down.
Butterfly:
- Has six legs
- Can fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
Penguin:
- Has two legs
- Cannot fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
STEP 3
Using the characteristics you have listed in Step 2, identify two characteristics that are different between the two animals.
Butterfly:
- Has six legs
- Can fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
Penguin:
- Has two legs
- Cannot fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
Hence, the differences are:
- A butterfly has six legs, while a penguin has two legs.
- A butterfly can fly, while a penguin cannot fly.
FINALLY, put your answer together
Question: Using the chart above, state two differences between a butterfly and a penguin.
Answer: A butterfly has six legs, while a penguin has two legs. A butterfly can fly, while a penguin cannot fly.
Common mistakes
Wrong answer: A butterfly has six legs while a penguin cannot fly.
You are not comparing the same characteristic here (you are talking about the number of legs of a butterfly while talking about a penguin’s ability to fly). You need to compare the same characteristic of both animals. This means that if you describe the number of legs of a butterfly, you must compare it with the number of legs of a penguin. Similarly, if you describe a penguin’s ability to fly, you must compare it with a butterfly’s ability to fly.
Incomplete answer: A butterfly has six legs, while a penguin does not. A butterfly can fly, while a penguin cannot.
It is not enough to say a penguin “does not” or “cannot”. Your answer needs to specify the characteristics of a penguin to make a proper comparison with a butterfly. You have to specify:
- How many legs a penguin has
- What exactly a penguin cannot do
Wrong answers: A butterfly is an insect while a penguin is a bird. / A butterfly cannot swim while a penguin can swim.
While the information in these answers are correct, the question asks you to answer “using the chart above”, meaning that you can only use the information found in the classification table. The classification table does not mention insects/birds or the ability to swim, hence you cannot use these in your answer.
Let us look at part (B)
Using the chart above, state one similarity between an eagle and a flea.
STEP 1
Identify where the eagle and flea are in the chart.
STEP 2
Work backward up the chart to identify all the characteristics of each animal. Then, list them down.
Eagle:
- Has two legs
- Can fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
Flea:
- Has six legs
- Cannot fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
STEP 3
Using the characteristics you have listed in Step 2, identify one characteristic that is the same between the two animals.
Eagle:
- Has two legs
- Can fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
Flea:
- Has six legs
- Cannot fly
- Is an animal that lays eggs
Hence, the similarity is:
Both are animals that lay eggs.
FINALLY, put your answer together
Question: Using the chart above, state one similarity between an eagle and a flea.
Answer: Both an eagle and a flea are animals that lay eggs.
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Andy Ling
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